She is known for the emotional sound of her ballads. Some of her most popular songs include "Angel", "Building a Mystery", "Adia", "Possession", "Fallen", "I Will Remember You", and "World on Fire". Her best-selling album to date is Surfacing, for which she won two Grammy Awards and four Juno Awards.
Her first album Touch was released in September 28, 1988, recorded in 1987-1988, Vancouver, Canada. The album received both critical and commercial success and included the hit song Vox. During this period she co-operated with Tom Ferris and Dean Russel of Moev, who discovered her as a singer. She contributed backing vocals their 1990 album Head Down and embarked on her first national concert tour as an opening act for The Grapes Of Wrath, another Tom Ferris's band.
Her second album Solace (1991) was a real breakthrough in Canada, spawning the hit singles The Path of Thorns (Terms) and Into the Fire and being certified double platinum for sales of 200,000 copies in Canada.
In 1994 her third album Fumbling Towards Ecstasy quietly became Sarah's international breakthrough, scaling the charts in a number of countries. In the United States, the album was a steady seller that stayed in the middle ranges of the pop charts for almost two years.
Sarah's fourth album Surfacing, released in 1997, brought her international success, selling over 11 million copies worldwide. Still in the spotlight from the album, Sarah launched the highly popular Lilith Fair tour, which helped launch the careers of several well-known female artists.
Her next record Afterglow came out in 2003; it contained the singles Fallen, Stupid, and World On Fire. It was her first album of new material in six years. Sarah took a few years furlough to start a family with her husband and drummer, Ashwin Sood.
Her Holiday album Wintersong came out in October 2006. The album consists of eleven new recordings of well known Christmas songs as well as seasonal favorites interpreted by Sarah. The title track Wintersong is an original work of Sarah.
McLachlan's first studio album of original material in seven years, Laws of Illusion, was released on June 15, 2010. It features 10 new songs in addition to the previously released tracks "U Want Me 2" and "Don't Give Up on Us. The first single Loving You Is Easy was released on April 23, 2010. It was followed by Forgiveness, released on June 30, 2010.
Drawn to the Rhythm
Sarah McLachlan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Hoping to find some comfort there yearning to feel free
And we were mesmerized by the lull of the night and the smells that filled the air
And we laid us down on sandy ground it was cold but we didn't care
And we were drawn to the rhythm
Drawn to the rhythm of the sea
And we were drawn to the rhythm
We fell asleep and began to dream when something broke the night
Memories stirred inside of us, the struggle and the fight
And we could feel the heat of a thousand voices telling us which way to go
And we cried out is there no escape from the words that plague me so
And we were drawn to the rhythm
Drawn to the rhythm of the sea
And we were drawn to the rhythm
Drawn into the rhythm of the sea
In the still and the silent dawn another day is born
Washed up by the tireless waves the body bent and torn
When you wake in the face of the blinding sun, and you search only to find
That heaven is a stranger place than what you've left behind
And we were drawn to the rhythm
Drawn to the rhythm of the sea
And we were drawn to the rhythm
Drawn into the rhythm of the sea
And we were drawn to the rhythm
Drawn into the rhythm of the sea
The song "Drawn to the Rhythm" by Sarah McLachlan explores the experience of seeking solace and freedom in the midst of personal struggles. The opening verses describe the singer's attempts to escape their problems by wandering to the sea with a "heart of stone." Despite the chilly weather, they lay down and become "mesmerized by the lull of the night" and the "rhythm of the sea." This repetition of "drawn to the rhythm" emphasizes the pull of nature and the escape it offers.
However, the peace is short-lived, as "something broke the night" and memories of their problems resurface. The singer is overwhelmed by the "thousand voices telling us which way to go," suggesting a sense of confusion and internal conflict. The final verse brings a sense of resolution as the sun rises and the singer realizes that their difficulties may have followed them, but there is still hope for a new beginning.
The imagery of the sea serves as a metaphor for the natural rhythms of life and the way in which they can both soothe and challenge us. The repetition of "drawn to the rhythm" creates a sense of inevitability and an acknowledgement that life's challenges cannot be avoided, but must be faced head-on. McLachlan's haunting vocals and the gentle melody evoke a sense of yearning and introspection, making the song a powerful reflection on the human experience.
Line by Line Meaning
When we wore a heart of stone we wandered to the sea
When we were emotionally hardened, we went to the ocean
Hoping to find some comfort there yearning to feel free
Seeking solace and freedom
And we were mesmerized by the lull of the night and the smells that filled the air
Enchanted by the calming night and the fragrant ambiance
And we laid us down on sandy ground it was cold but we didn't care
Lying on the chilled sand, unfazed
And we were drawn to the rhythm
Compelled by the ocean's beat
Drawn to the rhythm of the sea
Swayed by the movement of the waves
We fell asleep and began to dream when something broke the night
We dozed and were interrupted by something jarring
Memories stirred inside of us, the struggle and the fight
Recollecting hardships and battles
And we could feel the heat of a thousand voices telling us which way to go
Sensing the pressure of many opinions on our path
And we cried out is there no escape from the words that plague me so
Begging for relief from tormenting words
In the still and the silent dawn another day is born
At sunrise, a new day starts quietly
Washed up by the tireless waves the body bent and torn
Body weary, beaten by the persistent sea
When you wake in the face of the blinding sun, and you search only to find
Upon waking, only to realize
That heaven is a stranger place than what you've left behind
The reality being less heavenly than before
And we were drawn to the rhythm
Footsteps led to the water's pulse
Drawn into the rhythm of the sea
Immersed in the melody and movement of the ocean
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: SARAH ANN MCLACHLAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@misternewoutlook5437
According to wikipedia, she hasn't performed this live since 1999. I find it hard to believe such a great nostalgic song like this doesn't make her current touring sets. Come on girl, people like the back catalog stuff!
@josephprovencher6345
I remember Tori Amos got sick of playing Silent All These Years live all the time and so she had stopped for many years!
@CrAck-MoNey
So damn good! The first time I heard this, my friend Taryn told me to turn out all my lights and experience it. I know she won't see this, but I hope she knows that that moment stuck with me. I'm 43 now, and I still get the chills hearing this song. Thank you Taryn.
@Smile9485
I've been a huge fan since I was 8. I'm 35 now. My parents even got me tickets to see you perform in Denver (We are from Rapid City, SD.) as my graduation present. Your music has gotten me through some pretty rough times in my life. You are a very bright light in this sometimes very dark world. Music is my life and I sing most of the time that I'm awake. My biggest dream is singing with you someday. Shoot for the moon, even if you miss you will still be amongst the stars. đđâ
âIf you wanted to come perform in Rapid City, SD sometime that would be really awesome. đ
@intheory9772
I listen to Sarah anytime I need to reset my circadian rhythm or return my heartbeat to normal sinus rhythm. Life is all about keeping balance rhythmically.đ€
@alexmeyer5260
This has been one of my favorite Sarah McLachlan songs ever since I was a little boy.
@Allwebcodesign
Lyric brilliance.
@josephprovencher6345
I used to looooove this song. Parts of it gived me Loreena McKennitt vibes â€
@scarlettsify
I used to listen to this album over and over again when I was 10-12 years old, and I memorized the lyrics. I loved singing along, and feeling our voices blend together â„ this is still a song I listen to when I need an inspirational boost. Sarah McLachlan is amazing.
@TheMagicLemur
I'm astounded this song isn't more popular - definitely her best song IMHO and good video too.